How to Remove a 2001 Ford Expedition Door Panel
by Russell Wood
If you have a window break in your Expedition, or perhaps the power window motor has gone out, the first thing you'll have to do to get to the broken part is remove the door panel. This is easier to do in a 2001 Ford Expedition than in earlier models, and it can be done with minimal tools. The process is similar for other Expedition model years as well.
Step 1
Open the door as wide as possible to give you room to work. Then remove the tiny triangular trim panel in the upper corner of the door, opposite the mirror, by pulling on it in an upward motion to release the tabs. Remove the foam behind it and unscrew the screw underneath using a torx-head screwdriver.
Step 2
Place the flathead screwdriver in the blade slot underneath the lighted reflector in the corner of the door panel and pop out the lens. Unscrew the torx-head screw you find underneath using the torx-head screwdriver.
Step 3
Open the door handle and use the flathead screwdriver to pop out the trim ring that goes around it. Unbolt the bolt underneath using the 1/4-inch ratchet and socket. Then pull out the window and lock controls with your hands, and unplug the harnesses to release the controls. There is a screw behind this panel as well, so remove that with the torx-head screwdriver.
Step 4
Lift the door panel up toward the headliner and then pull it carefully away from the door, making sure that it doesn't get caught on any wiring along the way.
References
Things You'll Need
- Flathead screwdriver
- Torx-head screwdriver set
- 1/4-inch ratchet and socket set
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
